What does 1 Timothy 4:4 mean?

Paul repeats his theme from the previous verse: everything God created has some good purpose. Nothing in this world is supposed to be treated as "evil," in and of itself. Of course, good things can be abused. Alcohol has use, but can be abused in drunkenness. Food is good, but can be abused in gluttony. Sexuality is good, but it can be abused if practiced outside of godly marriage. Both verses 3 and 4 refer to the importance of receiving God's creations with a thankful spirit. Christians are to pray and give thanks for food, not reject it based on a false understanding of God's truth.

Elsewhere Paul wrote about food sacrificed to idols, saying, "Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 'an idol has no real existence,' and that 'there is no God but one'" (1 Corinthians 8:4), though he showed concern for those for whom this could be a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 8:7–13; Romans 14). Mark 7:19 also reveals that Jesus "declared all foods clean." We are to give thanks for our meals and for our marriages (1 Timothy 4:3), knowing that both are "good" (Genesis 1and have been blessed by God.